BTW why are we comparing prices of a just released 5DIII with a 4 year old MKII? $3500 for the MKIII and $2800 for the MKII, so you don't feel what the MKIII offers now over the MKII isn't worth $700?

You would be right if the MKIII had the best sensor available (just like 5DMKII when introduced)In addition the price of 5DMKIII will have to follow the same falling pattern if we are to compare them...

Except of course the 1DS3 sensor was well ahead of the 5DII - so perhaps the 1DX will be better than the 5DIII

Brian, I agree with you. Adding: The 5D3 can take shots the 1Ds3 cannot take, but the 1Ds3 cannot take shots the 5D3 can't take. Overall it's a more powerful tool, sans the metering capabilities. The 1Ds3 I agree is well ahead of the 5D2 in most cases.

For high IQ, ie iso200 or less, the 1DS3 is hands down better than the 5D2.

Also the AF on the 1DS3 is far superior (and the metering) plus of course the 5fps is better than 4fps

The 5D2 only wins on iso over 800

Brian, I'm talking 5D3, not 5D2. Of course the 1Ds3 is better than the 5D2 in all aspects I think.

BTW why are we comparing prices of a just released 5DIII with a 4 year old MKII? $3500 for the MKIII and $2800 for the MKII, so you don't feel what the MKIII offers now over the MKII isn't worth $700?

You would be right if the MKIII had the best sensor available (just like 5DMKII when introduced)In addition the price of 5DMKIII will have to follow the same falling pattern if we are to compare them...

Except of course the 1DS3 sensor was well ahead of the 5DII - so perhaps the 1DX will be better than the 5DIII

Brian, I agree with you. Adding: The 5D3 can take shots the 1Ds3 cannot take, but the 1Ds3 cannot take shots the 5D3 can't take. Overall it's a more powerful tool, sans the metering capabilities. The 1Ds3 I agree is well ahead of the 5D2 in most cases.

What kind of sensor do we want in the 5DIII, the 1DX's? If so buy the 1DX.

Maybe someone does not want the weight, size and 12-14 fps of 1DX but wants a normal size FF camera with the best sensor Canon has to offer.

Maybe so but there's so much griping about the 5DIII. There are many different combinations to be had, you can't please everyone. My point was that how much more does a person expect from a $3500 camera compared to a $7000 one?

Maybe the question can be rephrased:How much more should we expect from the $3500 5DIII compared to the $2000-2200 5DII?

I believe a lot more (5DII had the best sensor available by the time it was introduced)

It has a lot more. Have you ever used one as main camera and 5D II as backup? It has a lot more. The sensor is irrelevant. The processor is better, the features are more useful and numerous. Go shoot sports for a job and not have access to auto ISO in manual mode. It can be done, but you'll get better, more consistent exposures if you can run ISO in auto mode while controlling DOF and shutter speed. Only the 1D4 and 1DX can you also do EC on top of that. There is little comparison between the two cameras unless you are doing portrait and landscape only. Even then, you cannot do HDR and ME in-camera, which is actually very useful for night photography.

The downfall here of course is that you cannot do spot-metering with active AF point during sports. But the 5D II can't do any of the things I listed. They're not equal.

I can't believe that everyone is so "spec-oriented" on this thread. You're assuming that the 16-35L II doesn't take good pictures. For everyday photography, the 16-35L II takes just as good of pictures as the 24 or 17L's. Gosh this is amazing. The guy just wants it for landscape shots and you're suggesting super-expensive lenses that he doesn't need. He either needs the 16-35L or 17-40L and the flexibility over IQ issues that nobody cares about or can notice.

No flash allowed! ISO 12,800 with 5D Mark III and NR set to 50 in Adobe Camera RAW

This is the main reason why my wife is letting pick up the 5dmk3. To be able to take great pictures of our kids (when they finally come). Now is just practicing so i can take a great shot like this for when the day comes

It'll be worth it. It's really cool, for that picture that's literall all I did, NR in Camera RAW, save to level 5 jpg. The 1Ds3 cannot take that shot.

I have had my mark III for about two weeks now and have been shooting a lot of hummingbird and macro shots. My previous camera was a 40d which I thought took excellent pictures.... that is until now! While I still think it takes great pictures, the 5d is just amazing. I was really worried about losing the crop factor for some pics, especially the birds. However, the Mark III more than makes up for this with it's low light capability and the substantial bump in resolution. I have been amazed at how much I can crop some of my full frame pics and they remain excellent. I am getting shots now that I never dreamed of with the 40d, and the 61 point autofocus, don't even get me started on how much I already love that! Anyone with a crop body that has concerns about upgrading and losing the crop factor, don't worry about it if you upgrade to the Mark III. I can't pick up my 40d anymore, it just can't compare. I was going to keep it so I would have two bodies, but I'm starting to think that it may go and I may buy another full frame, possibly a Mark II.

It's actually great for sports too. You have to use center AF point, but set it to spot metering, Tv= 1/500 to 1/800, Av= 6.3, ISO = Auto. It's pretty good in an indoor gym at those settings with decent DOF and sufficient shutter speed to stop action. A few of my shots went to ISO 12,800 but it didn't matter because I applied NR post processing and it looked fine.

I did the same as you - sold the 5D2 and got the 1DS3 instead of a 5DIII - due to the better metering. If has more than met my expectations

Here is one from today - my father's new cat.

1DS3, 70-200 f/2.8 II, 1/50, f/6.3, iso200

I agree that the 1Ds3 is a great camera and I use mine. But unfortunately it cannot go to high ISO, where the 5D3 can. I sort of look at the 5D3 as actually replacing the 1Ds3 more than the 1DX. The 5D3's metering isn't as good, but it can shoot cleanly at ISO 6400. They are both compromise cameras.

To support this thread, anytime I'm shooting outdoors, my 1Ds3 is my main camera and the colors and metering are very, very accurate. Those are probably the best attributes over the 5D3. 5D3's auto ISO in manual mode makes it handy in low-light indoor situations, but in landscape and portrait the color depth is not as great as the 1Ds3.

The only firmware update so far is the link I posted above. So far that's it.

Thanks. Here is the quote from this site hinting at a more substantial update:

New 5D Mark III Firmware Before the End of May [CR2]MAY 9, 2012 CANON 5D MARK III, CANON FIRMWARE FOLLOW ON OUR FORUM

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ScheduledThere is apparently going to be new 5D Mark III firmware before the end of May. It will address a few bugs, as well as adding some “features”. No mention of what the features might be. It was mentioned there is a possibility of a bug fix firmware update before the “feature” update, a two part strategy if you will.

Wick, we're aware of the quote. We're trying to tell you that it hasn't happened yet. Canon hasn't said when it will either. It was a rumor anyways.